Overview

In this poignant and darkly humorous memoir, Sonya Vesterholt recounts her experiences growing up in Leningrad during the Stalin era and the post-Stalin ""thaw."" This collection of memories, stories, and jokes conveys personal experiences of historical events in the Soviet Union. Characters collide with the oppressive state espionage system that interferes in their personal lives and explore key moments from the author's childhood and youth. With both humor and bitterness, readers discover Sonya's routine heroism and resistance to state power as well as ironic details of everyday life. Under these circumstances, something as seemingly straightforward as a short message about the dog's health becomes a symbol of victory over fear and absurdity.

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Reviews

""An incredibly important, gripping, and absurdly humorous book about life during a dictatorship."" —Jørgen Johansen, Berlingske ""Sonya describes the grumpy, incomprehensible, and crazy situation in the Soviet Union with a wonderful cool understated humor. (...) Read it, cry, and laugh with her."" — Claus Mechlenborg, Kristeligt Dagblad ""...a little gem with both wisdom and humor, filled with individual yet very important details."" — Helle Hellmann, Politiken ""Between Leningrad and Copenhagen lay the Baltic Sea and a whole world. That is how it was during the Cold War. On the one hand communism, and on the other Western liberal democracy. This means that the USSR has become a mirror reflection of the Western world. To understand ourselves, we must understand Leningrad. Two books have just been published on this relationship: a lexicon of over 600 pages, which does not say much about the difference between the two systems, and this little humorous memoir that says it all."" — Mogens Rukov, Weekendavisen ""This book is a true gift for the soul. Dog Doing Well: Stories from My Life in the Soviet Union is not just a memoir—it’s full of raw emotion, wise observations, and subtle humor. I read it in one breath, often pausing to reflect. The author masterfully captures the atmosphere of the time—its absurdity, sorrow, joy, and the warmth of human connection. It’s incredibly sincere, genuine, and at times, moving to tears. Thank you for such a powerful book. It stays with you—and perhaps even changes your perspective on life a little. I wholeheartedly recommend it!"" — Natasha Olenych, (translated from Russian) ""The book doesn’t try to demonize or romanticize the USSR—it’s simply honest. Funny and sad. Witty and biting. If you want to see the Soviet era through the eyes of someone who didn’t fit into the system but managed to live in spite of it—this is a great read. I recommend it to anyone who loves memoirs with personality, unvarnished history, and dark humor in the spirit of 'life is absurd, but you have to laugh or you’ll go mad.'"" — Nikita Matasov, (translated from Russian)

""An incredibly important, gripping, and absurdly humorous book about life during a dictatorship."" —Jørgen Johansen, Berlingske ""Sonya describes the grumpy, incomprehensible, and crazy situation in the Soviet Union with a wonderful cool understated humor. (...) Read it, cry, and laugh with her."" —Claus Mechlenborg, Kristeligt Dagblad ""...a little gem with both wisdom and humor, filled with individual yet so important details."" —Helle Hellmann, Politiken ""Between Leningrad and Copenhagen lay the Baltic Sea and a whole world. That is how it was during the Cold War. On the one hand communism, and on the other Western liberal democracy. This means that the USSR has become a mirror reflection of the Western world. To understand ourselves, we must understand Leningrad. Two books have just been published on this relationship, a lexicon of over 600 pages, which does not say much about the difference between the two systems, and this little humorous memoir that says it all."" —Mogens Rukov, Weekendavisen ""This book is a true gift for the soul. Dog Doing Well: Stories from My Life in the Soviet Union is not just a memoir—it’s full of raw emotion, wise observations, and subtle humor. I read it in one breath, often pausing to reflect. The author masterfully captures the atmosphere of the time—its absurdity, sorrow, joy, and the warmth of human connection. It’s incredibly sincere, genuine, and at times, moving to tears. Thank you for such a powerful book. It stays with you—and perhaps even changes your perspective on life a little. I wholeheartedly recommend it!"" —Natasha Olenych, (translated from Russian) ""The book doesn’t try to demonize or romanticize the USSR—it’s simply honest. Funny and sad. Witty and biting. If you want to see the Soviet era through the eyes of someone who didn’t fit into the system but managed to live in spite of it—this is a great read. I recommend it to anyone who loves memoirs with personality, unvarnished history, and dark humor in the spirit of 'life is absurd, but you have to laugh or you’ll go mad.'"" —Nikita Matasov, (translated from Russian)

Author Information

Sonya Vesterholtis a memoirist, award-winning documentary film instructor, producer, film festival jury member, radio host and speaker, and art gallery owner. She came to Denmark from the USSR in 1970. Vesterholt has a degree in Russian language and literature, taught Russian at Copenhagen University, and interpreted for the Danish Refugee Council. She also studied creative production at the National Film School of Denmark. Her books areHunden Er Rask(2011) andKjrlighetslandet(2016).

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